UPDATE:
In response to the reports of Royal Caribbean canceling more than 90 calls to San Juan, Puerto Rico we’ve received the following statement:
Royal Caribbean reviews and adjusts itineraries and deployments every year.
The rumors regarding cancellations of sailings departing between April 2020 – March 2021 from San Juan are incorrect. We have not cancelled any of our ships visiting or homeporting in San Juan.
Though we have not yet announced our full 2021-2022 deployments, we do expect fewer calls from San Juan for the 2021-2022 season and we will be able to provide more details once we have announced our itineraries. No decisions regarding deployment beyond those dates have yet been made.
PREVIOUSLY:
Cruise ship visits to San Juan, Puerto Rico are being canceled for the 2020-21 season due to the privatization of the cruise port.
Cruise Ships Canceling Calls to San Juan
According to El Nuevo Dia, Royal Caribbean is canceling 90 calls to San Juan, Puerto Rico for the 2020 and 2021 season. The news was released by Fermin Fontanez, the director of the Authority for Public-Private Partnerships that these cancellations would happen.
However, the cruise line has apparently confirmed to the site that no itineraries have been changed and they are “still standing on the same full itineraries.”
The reason for the cancellations is the privatization of the cruise docks in San Juan due to much-needed maintenance that is needed. Around $250 million investment is needed to make sure cruise ships can continue to dock there in the years to come. There is an urge for governer Wanda Vazquez to not go ahead with the privatization so this news is fluid.
We will have to see how this works out as the port authorities and Royal Caribbean usually have an open dialogue and it has come as a surprise with the cancellations.
The 90 canceled visits to the eastern Caribbean island would mean 360,000 fewer tourists and in turn, would have an economic impact of $44 million. Authorities have also stated that an additional 30 departures from San Juan are being canceled and that apparently includes Freedom of the Seas which is operated by Royal Caribbean.
Allure of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas which are both Oasis-class cruise ships are also impacted by the canceled calls. Carnival Cruise Line has remained committed to the island and has even recently announced new sailings with the Carnival Fascination cruise ship in 2021.
Cruise Hive will keep an eye on developments and keep readers updated.
